1
Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and taught the brothers there, saying, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom handed down from Moses, you cannot be saved.”

2
But Paul and Barnabas strongly opposed and disputed their view. Finally it was decided that Paul and Barnabas, together with some others from that congregation, should go up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem to discuss this matter.

3
So the congregation sent them on their way, and they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria. There they told of the conversion of the Gentiles, and this brought great joy to all the brothers there.

4
When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the congregation and by the apostles and elders, and they reported everything God had done through them.

5
But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees came and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.”

6
So the apostles and the elders gathered together to consider this matter.

7
After much discussion had taken place, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that from the beginning God chose me from among you, so that through my mouth the Gentiles might hear the message of the gospel and believe.

8
And God, who knows the human heart, showed that He accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them just as to us,

9
and He made no distinction at all between us and them, after He had cleansed their hearts by faith.

10
Now then, why do you test God by placing on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither our fathers nor we ourselves have been able to bear?

11
On the contrary, we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, just as they also are.”

12
Then the whole assembly fell silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul as they told of all the signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.

13
After Barnabas and Paul had finished speaking, James said, “Brothers, listen to me:

14
Simon has told how God first showed His grace to the Gentiles by choosing from among them a people for His name.”

15
This agrees with the words of the prophets, as it is written:

16
‘After this I will return,
and I will rebuild David’s fallen tent;
its ruins I will rebuild,
and I will restore it,

17
so that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the nations who are called by my name,’ says the Lord, who does these things,

18
known from of old.

19
Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God,

20
but that we should write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of animals that have been strangled, and from blood.

21
For from ancient times Moses has had those who proclaim him in every city, and he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.”

22
Then the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, decided to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers.

23
They sent this letter by them: “The apostles and the elders, your brothers, to the brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia who are from the Gentiles:

24
We have heard that some from among us, to whom we gave no instruction, have troubled you and unsettled your minds with their teaching.

25
Therefore we have unanimously decided to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

26
men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

27
So we have sent Judas and Silas, who will also tell you these things by word of mouth.

28
For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to lay on you any greater burden than these necessary things:

29
that you abstain from food offered to idols, from blood, from meat of animals that have been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”

30
After being sent off, Judas and Silas went down to Antioch. There they gathered the whole church together and delivered the letter to them.

31
When they had read it, the church rejoiced because of its encouraging message.

32
Judas and Silas, who were also prophets, exhorted the brothers at length and strengthened their hearts.

33
And after some time they stayed there, the brothers sent them away in peace to return to those who had sent them.

34
[But Silas decided to remain there.]

35
Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch for some time. Together with many others they taught and proclaimed the word of the Lord.

36
But after some time Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return now to our brothers in every city where we have proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing.”

37
Barnabas wanted to take John, who was called Mark;

38
but Paul firmly said that it was not right to take along one who had left them in Pamphylia and had not gone on to work with them.

39
This caused a sharp disagreement, so that they parted from one another, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus.

40
But Paul chose Silas, and after being commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord

41
he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches there.

📖 Acts 15 – The Jerusalem Council: Salvation by Grace

🧾 Summary of Acts 15

This chapter records the first church council in Jerusalem, which addressed an important question: Must Gentiles be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses in order to be saved? The apostles and elders gathered and reached a decision that made clear that salvation is by the grace of the Lord Jesus, not by the law.

✨ Explanation of the Content

1. Doctrinal Dispute in Antioch (verses 1–5)

• Some men from Judea came to Antioch and taught that circumcision according to the Law of Moses was a requirement for salvation.
• Paul and Barnabas strongly opposed this teaching.
• So it was decided to bring this matter to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders.

2. The Council in Jerusalem: Debate and Testimony (verses 6–12)

• The apostles and elders gathered to discuss this matter.
• Peter stood and testified that God had used him to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles (the account of Cornelius, Acts 10).
• He declared that God purified their hearts by faith, just as He did the Jews.
• Peter said:

“We believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they also are.” (verse 11)

• Barnabas and Paul also bore witness to the signs and wonders God had done through them among the nations.

3. James Gives the Decision (verses 13–21)

• James, the leader of the church in Jerusalem, summed up the discussion and showed that the prophets had foretold the turning of the nations.
• He suggested that the Gentile believers should not be burdened, but that they be given certain restrictions important for avoiding division:

• • To keep away from food offered to idols,

  • To keep away from sexual immorality,

  • Not to eat blood or the meat of animals that have been strangled.

4. The Decision Letter Is Sent to Antioch (verses 22–35)

• The apostles sent Judas (Barsabbas) and Silas with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch to bring the decision letter from Jerusalem.
• The church in Antioch greatly rejoiced to receive the decision.
• Silas and Judas also strengthened the church, and afterward returned to Jerusalem, while Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch teaching.

5. The Disagreement of Paul and Barnabas (verses 36–41)

• Paul proposed a return visit to the churches they had already visited.
• Barnabas wanted to take Mark, but Paul refused because Mark had once left them (Acts 13:13).
• This disagreement caused them to part ways:

• • Barnabas took Mark to Cyprus.

  • Paul chose Silas and went to Syria and Cilicia, with the blessing of the Lord.

📘 Main Teachings of Acts 15

1. Salvation is a gift, not the result of works or law.
2. The unity of the church must be guarded, even when differences of opinion arise.
3. Church leadership is important in resolving conflict.
4. The church needs to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit and the Word, not only to human tradition.
5. Differences are not always bad; sometimes God uses them to expand the ministry.

✨ Spiritual Meaning of Acts 15

• The Jerusalem Council teaches that the heart of the Gospel is grace.
• We are called not to burden people with extra, unbiblical requirements.
• Even when conflict occurs, even among spiritual leaders, the Lord still works in each of their ministries.
• Freedom in Christ is not for doing whatever one pleases, but for living in mutual respect and edification.